Just Granted: First Steps
What do I actually do with a patent I'm not using?
The short answer
An unused patent has three honest options: monetize it (license or sell), hold it strategically, or let it go and stop paying fees. Large-scale inventor surveys across the US, Europe, and Japan confirm that a substantial share of patents are 'sleeping' — never used internally or licensed — so you're in the majority, and the majority is leaving money on the table.
The full picture
Start by asking why it's unused. If the invention no longer fits your business but covers a market others operate in, it's a licensing or sale candidate — dormant assets are exactly what patent buyers and licensees look for. If it blocks competitors from your core market, holding it may be the value. If neither is true, continuing to pay maintenance fees is a slow leak.
The mistake isn't having a sleeping patent — it's never deciding which kind you have. A portfolio-style review, even of a single patent, usually makes the answer obvious within one conversation. If you want a second set of eyes on yours, we're easy to reach.
Where does your patent stand?
The Beyond the Patent Commercialization Score answers that — a professional, factor-by-factor read on your patent's licensing, sale, build, and partner potential.
Related questions
General information for patent owners — not legal advice. Read the disclaimer.